A new heart I will give to you, and a new spirit I will put within you.

Ezekiel 36:26

Dear Families,

Next week some of our Year 6 students will make the Confirmation. We wish the students many prayers and blessings. Thank you to the families who have supported their children in making this special and important  step in  their faith journey.

We are halfway through our cyclic Inquiry. Last week the panel came and we met with them and presented to them our celebrations and our future directions. They will now begin to synthesise this information before their second visit this Thursday where they will visit the classrooms and speak with all the community members. We are seeking some parents to meet with panel members from 8:40 am to 9:00 am on Thursday morning. If you can attend please contact the office and let us know that you will be attending this meeting.

As we near the end of term we reflect on the term that we have had. Teachers will be sending home an update report which is a check in for how your child is tracking this term. If you have any questions or concerns please make an appointment with the teacher.

I would like to thank our teachers for the work they do in ensuring our students are able to grow in faith, learning and wellbeing. I would also  like to thank the community for your ongoing support as we work together to build St Paul's into a faithful and compassionate community that aspires to lifelong learning in faith, learning and wellbeing.

I wish all our community members all the best for the school holiday period. I hope that you are able to find time to be together. Let us pray that when we return in Term 4 we will not feel the rush and pressure of the end of the year as we lead up to Christmas. May it be a peaceful journey of consolidation from what has been a busy and productive year.

Thank you and God Bless,

Staff Spirituality Day - Friday 22 September

On the last day of term staff will be participating in a Spirituality day with Sr Elizabeth Hellwig.  Sr Elizabeth is a Dominican nun and works in the archives at Santa Sabina. Sr Elizabeth is going to work with us on Dominican history and spirituality. This is in support of our work in embedding our vision and mission and renewing the Charism of the school.

This is a pupil free day. There will be no staff on site and the school will be closed.

Catholic Mission Launch

Mrs Browne will be attending this launch with two Year 6 representatives at Holy Spirit College Bellambi.

RUOK Day - Thursday 14 September

This day is a reminder to everyone that three simple words can make a big difference in people’s lives. Are you ok? Is a simple question that can be used to check in with people.

Click on the link to access more information. RUOK

Long Service Leave Term 4 Week 1

Mrs Browne will be taking long service leave for the first week of Term 4. During this week Mr Farrugia will be the Acting Principal.

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

This is a free online course for parents and comes highly recommended.

Manage everyday challenges with positive parenting strategies

Childhood is made up of many little moments. Difficult moments, magic moments, and more. Because we all want what’s best for our children – now, and in the future – it’s good to be able to make the most of every moment, whether it’s savouring the great ones or coping confidently with the tricky ones.

• Little kids can have BIG emotions. And that can mean tantrums, bedtime battles, aggressive behaviour. Parents and carers need positive solutions that really work, for all kinds of situations.
• When children get better at things like routines, sharing, and getting along with others, family life gets a lot better.
• Small issues are sorted out before they become big ones.
• Kids gain valuable life skills like problem-solving to help them now, and in the future.
• Children can learn to talk about strong emotions and handle them in healthy ways.

Catholic Care event - Managing Big Emotions

This was a highly successful evening. Thank you to our Catholic Care counsellors for running the program. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and the parents who attended are looking for more opportunities like this one. We will continue to work with Catholic Care to see how we can provide future programs.

Justin Coulson Talk

On Thursday 12th October (Term 4) we are proudly hosting a talk from Dr Justin Coulson in the School Hall at 6.30pm.  This is a Free event for parents from St Michaels Mittagong, St Thomas Bowral and St Paul's Moss Vale.  Adults only, no children or babysitting service.  Please indicate your attendance via the link or QR code in the pdf flyer below.

Thursday_12_October_Presentation.pdf

Thursday_12_October_Presentation _pdf 265.67 KB

Attention Year 2 Parents

St Paul’s participates in the 1:1 iPad school managed  program from Year 3. Parents purchase the iPad through school and pay for it over two years in the school fees. This program is compulsory. Future details will be sent out later this year.

Safety online and use of iPads

As we approach the spring school holidays your children may find that they have more time to use their devices in a non educational setting. This may be a great opportunity to check in with them about their use of these devices and the apps/sites they are using and visiting. Whilst the school managed iPads (Years 3-6) don't allow for downloading of apps students are still able to access the wider world of the internet through their browser (usually “Safari”). School Wifi settings are set up to block most inappropriate sites. However, the majority of homes are not set up this way. In either setting there is a possibility of students stumbling across something which may be inappropriate for their developmental age. It is important that we, as teachers and parents, work with our students to develop strategies on what to do if this occurs. 

A fantastic website to refer to is the eSafetyCommissioner site where there is an abundance of resources and advice for parents and students. If you do have any questions or concerns at any point, please do not hesitate to contact the school to discuss these.

Thank you,

Confirmation

Just a friendly reminder that the Confirmation rehearsal will be held on Thursday 14^th at 5pm in the school hall. Following this, there will be confession in the church. Alternatively, they can attend confession on Saturday 16^th. It would be beneficial if sponsors could attend the rehearsal.

The Confirmation Mass will take place on Wednesday 20^th September, commencing at 7pm. Please arrive by approximately 6:45, particularly for those students who have a special role (eg reading). After the Confirmation Mass, students will be presented with their certificates and cupcakes. There will also be some tea, coffee and refreshments available for all those attending.

Mary MacKillop

Earlier in the term, we announced the cancellation of the Mary MacKillop liturgy. However, since we are going ahead with our Steam Day, we have decided to go ahead with the Mary MacKillop Liturgy as well. This will take place on Tuesday in Week 10 (19^th September), at 9:15 in the school hall. The children who were originally doing the readings for the liturgy will have the opportunity to read this time. All are welcome to attend.

Thank you

New Summer Uniform Item for Girls

There is a new summer uniform item available for Girls, starting in Term 4.

You can now try on and pre order 'Tailored Girls Shorts' from Whytes at Moss Vale for $49.95 from Mid June.

They are a stretch gabardine fabric with:

- Wide curved waistband with 2 buttons

- 2 front pockets

- 2 back pockets

Girls could wear these in Term 4 and Term 1, along with the short sleeve blue button up collared shirt, also available from Whytes.

The other summer uniform option for girls is still the the dress.

Fair is Not Always Equal

It's natural for siblings to grapple with notions of fairness and equality, and it's a topic that comes up frequently in many households. It's crucial to highlight that being 'fair' and 'equal' are not synonymous, and understanding this distinction is a valuable life lesson for our children. While life will present moments when things seem 'unfair', grasping the difference between fairness and equality offers children a fresh perspective. This can significantly help in managing intense emotions associated with perceived injustices.

Simply put:

Fairness means everyone gets what they need.

Equality means everyone gets the same.

For example, an older child might be allowed to stay up later or might receive additional device time for homework. However, this could also mean that they have more responsibilities or chores compared to their younger siblings. It's about ensuring that every individual's unique needs are met, rather than treating everyone identically.

Understanding this can be tricky for children, but with some creativity, the message can be effectively conveyed.

The Band-Aid Approach

Invite the family to imagine various injuries or illnesses – from a broken bone to a mere headache. Now, if you were to give everyone a Band-Aid, would it effectively address all those problems? Certainly not! It wouldn't be appropriate to treat a headache with a Band-Aid. Similarly, it's not always fitting to treat everyone identically. Instead, the aim is to ensure everyone gets what they specifically require to thrive and heal.

Recognising the difference between fairness and equality fosters empathy and understanding in children. It equips them with a profound appreciation for individual needs and situations – a truly essential life skill.

Rochelle Ingate & Bryan McDade